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AAA Five Diamond Resort in Picturesque Sonoran Desert

Since it’s situated in the middle of the desert, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess could be mistaken for a mirage of an oasis: it has five pools equipped with cascading waterfalls and twisting slides, including one with zero-depth entry. But the pools are just part of the AAA Five Diamond resort’s extravagant complex, which also has an ice-skating-rink lagoon, two championship golf courses, seven tennis courts, and the Willow Stream Spa.

The resort is well equipped for families. In the winter, the Fairmont builds its own 5,400 square foot skating rink as part of its Christmas at the Princess celebration, which includes a 45-foot musical tree. Parents can also drop off youngsters aged 5–12 at Bobcat Billy's Clubhouse, which holds scavenger hunts, fishing derbies, and canoe rides.

Fairmont has four restaurants, including chef Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak, a contemporary eatery specializing in organic cuts of beef and handcrafted cocktails.

The 525-square-foot Deluxe rooms open onto covered patios equipped with tables and chairs, where you can get views of the resort's lagoon or golf course. The open-plan Casita Signature rooms have a bedroom and sitting area in a 700-square-foot space, and the 525-square-foot Fairmont rooms come decorated in gold hues.

Scottsdale, Arizona: Stucco Mansions amid Rocky Desert Landscape

Located just northeast of Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert, Scottsdale once served as ranch land where farmers grew oranges and lemons and cowboys kicked up dust in the fierce, dry heat. That era earned Scottsdale the nickname of “The West's Most Western Town.” Today, it is an affluent city landscaped with lush green grass and lined with stucco mansions. For a glimpse of the city's Old West roots, head to Old Town Scottsdale, where wooden boardwalks and hitching posts sit in front of a retro ice-cream parlor and rustic specialty shops.

Upon arriving in Scottsdale, you know you're in the desert—cacti and tumbleweeds dot the landscape, and dry shrubs and gnarled trees cover the McDowell Mountains in the distance. To get a closer look at southwestern flora, head to the Desert Botanical Garden. There, themed trails wind past huge cacti and other moisture-hoarding succulents, best seen in the cooler early morning or twilight hours.